Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government is pursuing a zero-tolerance policy towards human trafficking and organised crime, with coordinated efforts underway to protect victims, ensure their sustainable rehabilitation and bring perpetrators to justice.

He made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Winrock International Global President and CEO Maqsoda Maqsodi at his office at the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.

The minister said the government was taking steps to ensure the effective implementation of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and the Human Trafficking Prevention Fund to strengthen victim protection and rehabilitation and expedite legal action against those involved in trafficking.

The ministry was also providing necessary support to expedite approval processes for NGO activities and new projects aimed at preventing human trafficking, he added.

Referring to fraudulent schemes linked to overseas employment, Salahuddin said immediate legal action had been taken against trafficking networks operating through cyberspace and fake online job offers.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the implementation of the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Prevention and Suppression Act, 2026, the digital NRM platform and sustainable rehabilitation programmes for trafficking survivors.

Maqsodi expressed satisfaction with Winrock International’s partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs in combating human trafficking in Bangladesh since 2008.

She reaffirmed the organisation’s full support for implementing the 2026 Act and the forthcoming National Plan of Action (NPA) for 2026–2030.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, Additional Secretary (Political and Immigration) Dr Ziauddin Ahmed and Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Wing Rebeka Khan attended the meeting.